‘It cannot be business as usual’
Mandeville mayor says accountability, transparency top agenda for office
MANDEVILLE, Manchester:
MAYOR OF Mandeville, Donovan Mitchell, opened the first meeting for 2017 at the Manchester Municipal Corporation on Thursday, charging that it cannot be business as usual and that transparency and accountability must be made a priority. In his remarks, Mitchell established the immediate mandate of the corporation for this year to be “rebuilding trust, mainstreaming integrity and time management”.
The mayor pledged to introduce a system for citizens to lodge complaints relating to illegal buildings and the dumping of garbage in drains and gullies. “We have opened the committees to public scrutiny; nonmembers of corporation with special training are on the committee,” the mayor pointed out.
He said the success of the parish was not solely dependent on the corporation but also on every single citizen and the collaborative efforts of agencies.
“People must come to work on time, projects must be completed on time ... response to citizens must be treated with urgency,” Mitchell said.
With the problem of crime affecting the parish, the mayor told The Gleaner that a closer working relationship would be established with the police.
“Even though we have [had] a reduction in crime, it is still not where we want it to go,” the mayor said, urging the councillors to forge greater ties with the police in their divisions.